7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting College

Many of you reading this today are probably headed to college in the fall. You’re excited, nervous and everything in between. So was I. Actually, so is everyone about to begin their college career. It’s normal. You’re going to learn a lot as you go, but I’m hoping this post can give you a good head start. Here are my top 7 things I wish I would’ve known freshman year: 

  1. Coffee. Coffee. More coffee. 

Coffee is there for you when nothing else is, so go ahead and learn to love it. And pro tip? Avoid the fancy stuff and stick with the basics (a.k.a black coffee with cream and sugar) to save yourself some $.

  1. Making friends is different in college.

Friendships are not a “given”. You aren’t in the same classes, with the same people, everyday like high school. This means you have to be proactive and intentional in making friends. Yes, new friendships can be awkward, and yes, that is normal. Asking someone you barely know to hangout after class or grab a coffee is not always easy. Just remember, everyone else is lonely and looking for friends, too. Go ahead and put yourself out there. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

  1. Don’t wait to get involved.

I went into freshman year with the mindset that I needed to keep my schedule open until I got “settled in.” News flash, settling in is boring. Do that after you graduate. Go ahead and get involved in campus clubs and organizations. If you overload your schedule, you can always scale back. Involvement can give you connections you’ll have for a lifetime, practical leadership and teamwork skills, and make Auburn start to feel like home. Before you know it, you’re a part of something bigger than yourself, you’ve made some friends, and you’re having a lot of fun.

  1. It’s OK to change your major. 

Some people start college knowing exactly what they want to do in life, ten year plan and everything. From what I’ve noticed, that’s the exception, not the rule. Changing your major doesn’t mean you failed. It means you are growing and learning more about yourself. Future you will sing your praises for making that change sooner rather than later. 

  1. Professors are great resources. 

In all my time at Auburn, I never encountered one professor who wasn’t willing to help . Get to know them. Go to office hours (yes, even when you don’t have to). Ask good questions. Talk to them about your dream job and what you need to do to get there. They are more willing to help than you realize. 

  1. Learn to study smart. 

Many of us have never been challenged academically the way college challenges us. The academic rigor of those first few semesters can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Find someone who has taken the class before and ask for help. Form a study group with other students in the class. Take advantage of Study Partners on campus. The earlier you form good study habits, the more success (and less stress!) you will have.

  1. Soak it up now. 

Drink the Toomer’s Lemonade, go to the football games, see an AU Theater production, eat way too much Momma G’s, roll the trees. After you graduate, life will go on and I hope it’s wonderful. But nothing quite comes close to your college years. You only go to college once, so soak up every moment.

There you have it. My top advice for anyone about to start college. Remember, it’s not just about getting a degree. It’s also about making amazing memories, gaining invaluable experiences, finding yourself, and forming friendships that will last a lifetime. So, give it all you have. Take risks, have fun, and work hard.

War Eagle!

Brenna

ZeeMee Community? What is that?

ZeeMee is the App for your phone, you didn’t know you needed until now. This is a great way to connect with other prospective and incoming students, through a group chat, pictures and videos; think GroupMe meets Instagram. The unique thing about ZeeMee is these group chats, pictures and videos are all from prospective students and ZeeMee Influencers (current students). This really allows for an authentic glimpse at Auburn.

We have so many ways for you to connect with students like your self, all through the admissions cycle. There are group chats for applying, admitted, Camp War Eagle and so much more. A few counselors are available to answer questions you may have through direct messages, but the group mainly consist of prospective and incoming students and Influencers. You can hear more about ZeeMee from a current Auburn student and Influencer, Asia Howard, so make sure you check that out.

We launched ZeeMee in January of this year and already have over 5,000 members in just the 2024 class alone. These members are chatting, sending gifs, finding roommates, creating friendships and study groups, and sharing their excitement about coming to Auburn in the Fall. If you haven’t joined already do it now, you won’t regret it.

https://zeemee.app.link/auburn

I am a ZeeMee Influencer.

Hey Y’all My name is Asia Howard and I am one of Auburn University’s first ZeeMee influencers. This year, I have had the opportunity to share my perspective of Auburn with the prospective and incoming class of 2024 and beyond. Before I tell you about my favorite parts of being an influencer, I am going to share a little about me. I am a junior from Dacula, GA majoring in Apparel Design. I love to watch sports, be involved, and run my Etsy shop.

As a ZeeMee influencer, I have had the opportunity to share some really cool moments that I have experienced in my second year at Auburn. I have had the opportunity to document some really cool basketball wins, such as LSU and Kentucky, share about my daily life at Auburn, show off some of my favorite spots on campus, and interact with the incoming Auburn family. It allows someone to see the what life is like as an Auburn student and feel like they already have a friend on campus. It has been really cool to interact with the ZeeMee community and I hope to see some of you soon.

If you haven’t already joined Auburn’s ZeeMee Community, join today https://zeemee.app.link/auburn.

Sneak Peek

Hey incoming freshmen!

Here is it! The sneak peek at the special gift that is sure to get you War Eagle Ready! It will be arriving soon to a mail box near you. What could it be?

War Eagle!

Auburn University Medical Clinic: Where Health and Wellness Meets the Auburn Family

The Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission is “to provide high-quality, efficient and convenient health care with compassion, dedication and professionalism.” The facility began serving Auburn University students, faculty, and staff as well as the greater Auburn community in 2005 with an unwavering commitment to achieving its mission. And I should know!

One of my earliest visits to the Medical Clinic occurred during the spring semester of my sophomore year. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was leaving Goodwin Hall with a heavy backpack on my back and my alto saxophone safely in its case in my left hand. In one moment, I was laughing with my friends walking down a hill close to the amphitheater and falling in slow motion in the next. After hearing an unusual *pop*…

… I had managed to land sitting on my left foot. With the help of my friends, I thought I could literally walk the injury off with a night of elevating my leg and icing my ankle with a bag of frozen green peas – college students are nothing if not resourceful. It was immediately evident the next morning, though, that I needed help from a medical professional and the Medical Clinic was the obvious choice. After an X-ray and a consultation with a doctor, my severely sprained ankle was on the mend.

One of my more recent visits was less embarrassing (thankfully, I’ve been more surefooted ever since) but equally memorable. In July 2018, I visited the Medical Clinic for a much more routine reason. At this time, I was nearly two years into being an admissions advisor and it was just days after learning about my dad’s cancer diagnosis. There were more unknowns and questions than certainty and answers in my life on the day of my visit. It was only after a couple weeks of waiting and worrying later than we learned that his cancer was treatable. Needless to say, my visit to the Medical Clinic that day was surrounded by unique circumstances. As I was waiting in my exam room, I was consumed with worry about my dad. When Dr. Owens walked into the room, I could have never predicted the ways in which she was going to help me. We talked about the reason for my visit and the medicine I need to take, and then the conversation somehow shifted to my dad. She listened intently and asked to pray over me. I left the Medical Clinic that day having received a level of care and concern I didn’t even know I needed.

Months later, I had a follow-up visit and, coincidentally, was treated by Dr. Owens again. She asked about my dad quickly after entering the exam room. I was amazed by her memory – how many patients had she seen since my visit? I was grateful to pass along the good news that he was responding well to treatment and even more grateful for her compassion for me and a loved one of mine that she had never even met.

Dr. Owens is undoubtedly extraordinary… along with every other doctor, PA, nurse, phlebotomist, receptionist, and staff member at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. If you’re anything like me, reader, you probably feel like this level of care and concern is a rarity in today’s world. But it’s the rule – not the exception to it – in the Auburn Family, and there is no better embodiment of the Auburn Family than the Auburn University Medical Clinic.

Highlights of Resources

  • The Auburn University Medical Clinic is a fee-for-service facility, meaning that you will only pay for services when you use them.
  • They have contracts with most major insurance companies and can work with students who are uninsured or take advantage of Auburn University’s Student Health Insurance.
  • Making an appointment over the phone or requesting an appointment through your patient portal is easy and the digital kiosks make the check-in process even more efficient.
  • In keeping with the Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission, there are a variety of services available to help ensure students’ holistic health and wellness. Some of the resources housed within the facility include:
  • While the facility has a variety of services, it does not currently have specialists like dentists or optometrists but will gladly refer you to a local option that will best meet your needs.

Overall, I can confidently speak from a variety of personal experiences that the Auburn University Medical Clinic is an invaluable resource to the Auburn community. Whether you are coming from near or far, rest assured that the folks at the Auburn University Medical Clinic will embody the spirit of the Auburn Family to ensure your health and wellness.

It’s all Greek to me.

GO GREEK!

With 4 different councils and 50 chapters to choose from, Auburn has a wide variety of ways you can get plugged in to Greek Life. Click on the video links below to hear from our Council Presidents and see how you can get involved today.


Alena Crews

President, Multicultural Greek Council


Mason Blevens

President, Interfraternity Council


Madison Birckhead

President, Panhellenic Council


Ronny Isaac

President, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated


Greek Life Facts

Demographics:

  • 7,682 men and women make up the Auburn Greek Community.  
  • Greek men and women represent approximately 31% of the total undergraduate population.

Service and Philanthropy

  • Greek students annually donate over $500,000 to local and national philanthropic efforts and charities as well as over 120,000 hours of service to local, national, and international organizations.

History:

  • The first fraternity founded at Auburn University was Sigma Alpha Epsilon – founded in 1878. 
  • The first sorority founded at Auburn was Kappa Delta founded in 1922. 
  • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1972 becoming the first NPHC organization to join the Auburn Greek community. 
  • The Multicultural Greek Council’s first organization was Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. founded in 2016.

Are you ready to go Greek?